Guide
A celebration of life order of service, with words you can use
In short
A celebration of life usually runs 30 to 60 minutes: a welcome, the story of the person's life, two or three memories shared by family and friends, a reading or a song, a moment of silence or a shared gesture, closing words and an invitation to stay. When the body or the ashes are not present, anyone can host it in Ontario. This order of service gives words for each step, to adapt freely.
Written by Sofiane B. · Founder, Celebrance
- Length
- About 45 minutes, then time together
- Speakers
- A host, the tribute, 2 or 3 memories
- Who can host it
- Anyone, when the body or ashes are not present
On this page
Before you start
This order of service is for a warm, non-religious celebration of life of about 45 minutes. Replace Maria with the name of the person you are remembering, and adapt every word. When the body or the ashes are not present, anyone can host a celebration of life in Ontario; with them present, the family itself or a licensed funeral establishment coordinates it.
1. Music as people arrive
A song the person loved, or a playlist of their music, while guests take their seats. A photo slideshow can run at the same time.
2. Welcome (the host)
Thank you all for being here. We are here to celebrate Maria: her life, her laugh, and everything she gave each of us. Some of you knew her for fifty years, some for five, and every one of you has a place in her story. Today is sad, but Maria would want it to be warm, too. So let's remember her as she was.
3. The story of her life (the tribute)
One person, often a close relative or friend, tells the story of the person's life in five to ten minutes: where she grew up, the people she loved, her work, what she cared about, a few stories that show who she was. Our guide on how to write a eulogy gives a method and an outline.
4. A reading or a song
A poem she loved, a passage that speaks to the family, or a song played or sung. One or two minutes is enough.
5. Shared memories
The host: Maria touched many lives. A few people would like to share a memory with us.
Two or three people speak, two to three minutes each. Ask them ahead, and agree on the order. If you'd like to open the floor, say so clearly and keep an eye on the time.
6. A shared moment
The host: Let's take a moment, together, to think of Maria in our own way.
A minute of silence, a candle lit by each family member, a flower placed by each guest, or a toast with her favourite drink. Choose a gesture that feels like her.
7. Closing words (the host)
Thank you for remembering Maria with us today. She isn't gone from the people who carry her: from her stories, her recipes, her jokes, the way she made each of us feel welcome. The family invites you to stay, share a meal and keep telling her stories.
Add any practical details: where to eat, a memory book to sign, a charity in her memory.
8. Music as people gather
A last song, to close the ceremony and open the time together.
A simple printed program
- On the front: her full name, her years, a photo.
- Inside: the order of service, the names of the speakers, the words of a reading or a song.
- On the back: a line of thanks from the family, and a charity in her memory if there is one.
Who leads it?
A relative or a close friend can host. A celebrant can also write the tribute with the family and lead the whole gathering, so that the family can simply be there. Celebrance can connect you with a celebrant from our local network in Ontario, at a price shown upfront, with a replacement if your celebrant becomes unavailable. See our celebrants for funerals and celebrations of life, and our celebration of life ideas.
Sources: thebao.ca: bao cig eng july2025.pdf · thebao.ca: family led death care
Frequently asked questions
How long is a celebration of life?
This order of service runs about 45 minutes. Between 30 and 60 minutes suits most gatherings, followed by time to eat and talk.
Who should speak?
A host who leads, one person who tells the story of the person's life, and two or three people who share a short memory. Ask them ahead and give each a time: two to three minutes for a memory.
Do we need a funeral home to hold it?
Not when the body or the ashes are not present: the Bereavement Authority of Ontario says anyone can then host a memorial, a celebration of life or a reception. With them present, the family itself or a licensed funeral establishment coordinates it.
What goes in a printed program?
The person's full name and years, a photo, the order of service, the names of the speakers, the words of a song or a reading, and a line of thanks with any charity the family suggests.